A team of researchers from the School of Dental Science at Universiti Sains Malaysia (USM) in Kubang Kerian here has produced the world’s first organic composite dental filling, made from rice husk.
Team leader Prof Dr Ismail Ab Rahman said the innovation, which would potentially replace the conventional amalgam dental filling, was the culmination of a research which began in 2011 under a USM three-year research grant of RM242,500 best cosmetic dentist london.
“It complies with dental international standards, can be produced at a lower cost, has a longer shelf life and a conceivably wide market,” he told a press conference here today.
Dr Ismail said they chose rice husk because it had a comparably high silica content of 10 per cent, and the estimated cost of producing 4gms of Composite Rice Husk (CRH) was only RM44 compared to the amalgam market price of between RM130 and RM200, depending on grade.affordable dental implants london
“Amalgam has been used as dental fillings for a long time but they can be toxic if used incorrectly, corrosive and unaesthetic. The colour of nanocomposite resin is similar to teeth, hence the choice,” he said of the innovation which bagged a gold medal at the 24th International Invention, Innovation & Technology Exhibition (ITEX) 2013 last month.
affordable cosmetic dentistry london Meanwhile, another USM researcher, Dr Zuraida Zainun also won a gold medal at the exhibition for her Bal ex Zuraida-Shah Rotatory Chair which can be used for body imbalance therapy and rehabilitation.
“The U.S. first invented the chair which costs RM275,000 each; there are only two in Malaysia, at Hospital Prince Court and Pantai Medical Centre in Kuala Lumpur…read more
